Multiple section pole



Nov. 24,- 1970 M. o. scoTT MULTIPLE SECTION POLE Filed May 8, 1968 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1 I'll. llt'lll'lililll |l|||'||||l|||r|| I v I INVENTOR.

Merftz 0. Scott BYW M J @Arrorn'eys' United States Patent O US. Cl. 52-127 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multi-sectional tubular tapered pole in which adjoining sections are aligned with each other by tightly fitting center sleeves secured to an end -of one of the sections and projecting into the interior of the other section. A tension member engages the adjoining sections and is arranged so that it is accessible from the exterior of the pole and, when subjected to tension, moves the adjoining sections toward each other into mutual abutment. The tension member and the adjoining sections are arranged so that they prevent relative rotational movement between the adjoining members as long as the tension member is in place.

The invention relates to long tapered metal poles used as standards for lighting, traflic signals and the like and more particularly to the method of production of such poles from multiple sections.

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ends and is constructed so that it is capable of moving them toward each other until their ends are in mutual abutment. Means are further provided for preventing relative rotational movement between the adjoining section when the tension member is in place.

In the presently preferred form of this invention, the tension member is an elongate, threaded bolt which engages a flange provided with a threaded aperture and secured to one of the sections. It projects through an aperature in another flange secured to the other adjoining section. Means, such as a conventional threaded nut, are provided for imparting tension to the bolt to move the sections toward each other. The bolt is disposed eccentrically relative to an axis of the post so that tangential forces are prevented from rotating the sections relative to each other. An access opening in one of the sections adjacent the tensioning nut enables operation of the nut from the exterior of the pole.

In another embodiment of this invention, which is especially adapted for securing the uppermost section of the pole to the adjoining section, a threaded bolt is positioned concentric with the pole, in engagement with a threaded aperture in a part secured to the section immediately below the uppermost section, and extends to 5 the exterior of the uppermost section for tightening. To

Large size supporting poles are in common use for traffic signals, lighting of streets, parking areas, athletic fields and the like and frequently required to be furnished in lengths of 50 to 60 feet or more. Such poles are most conveniently fabricated in shorter sections which are fitted and secured end to end to provide aunitary pole structure. Customarily such sections may have a length of say 10 to 2.0 feet.

As will also be readily understood, the transportation of long poles is frequently most difficult and most con-v veniently the several pole sections would be transported to the place of erection and assembled at the site. An object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a multiple section pole of the character described in which the several sections can be quickly and readily assembled into an unitary elongated pole at the site with minimum skill and required equipment and tools. In accordance with the present invention, a workman using a simple wrench as his only tool is capable of developing high-'- physical forces which will provide for a positive, me-

chanical interlock between joined sections and a tightly and snugly locked up joint assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple section pole of the character above which from an esthetic standpoint provides a smooth, continuous line finish disguising its multiple section construction and does so without the need for welding, grinding, machining, or other structural or finishing operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multiple section pole of the character described having full and adequate strength to support and withstand all normal and extraordinary loads to which it may be subjected including wind, ice and vibration loading.

Briefly, this invention provides poles constructed of a plurality of elongated, tubular sections joined in an end to end relation. A reduced diameter tubular center sleeve their engagement develops frictional forces opposing 7 0 relative movements between them. A tension member engages portions of the adjoining sections adjacent their prevent relative rotational movements between these two sections their ends are angularly inclined relative to the aXis of the post.

A pole constructed according to this invention permits a relatively eifortless and quick assembly of its section at its installation site. To force the sections into engagement with each other, an operator only needs to tighten the tensioning nut. As compared to the assembly costs of prior art sectional poles, this invention provides substantial cost saving in the assembly and installation of the posts. Moreover, in addition to the frictional engagement between the adjoining sections, a mechanical interlock is provided. Even unexpected and excessive forces, as well as vibration forces frequently encountered adjacent roadways, cannot loosen the joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a multiple section pole constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of two adjacent sections of the pole before a tensioning member is employed for moving the adjoining sections toward each other until their ends are in abutment;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but shows the ends of the sections in abuttment and the tensioning member in its final position;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a portion of the pole; and

FIG. 7 isan enlarged cross sectional view of the uppermost joint portion of the pole.

. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a multiple section pole 10 is mounted on a supporting surface 12, such as a sidewalk adjacent a street or on the ground adjacent a highway, and mounts a pair of street lighting fixtures 14 high above the supporting surface. The mounting heights of the fixture might be as much as 50 to 60 or more feet above the supporting surface. The post is constructed of a plurality of elongated sections of convenient length, say between about 10 to about 20 feet, to facilitate their transport to the installation site and to reduce the likelihood of damage to the post during the transportation.

The sections have a tubular cross section (best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5) and a lowermost section 16 includes a mounting flange 18 adjacent its lower end for securing the lamp posts to a suitable foundation (not shown). The post includes any desired number of sections to build it to its full height and terminates in an uppermost section 20. For simplicity and brevity only one intermediate sec tion 22 is illustrated in the drawings. The uppermost section includes transversely extending arms 24 for mounting fixtures 14, the arms here projecting from the uppermost section in a Y-shape.

To maintain the asthetic appearance of the lamp post, the sections are joined to each other in an end to end relation without providing parts projecting outwardly of the periphery of the sections for connecting adjoining sections. Thus, the post gives the appearance of a unitary construction, yet provide the advantages of constructing it of a plurality of assembled sections.

Referring to FIG. 1 through 3, an intermediate joint of the post such as joint 26 shown in FIG. 1, is defined by a centering sleeve 28 which is alfixed as by welding or is otherwise integrally constructed with the lowermost section 16 so as to form a co-axial tubular extension thereof. A portion 30 of the sleeve projects from an upper end 32 of the lowermost section and has a reduced outer diameter, as compared to the outer diameter of the lowermost section, and tightly engages the inside of a lower end 34 of the intermediate section 22 with the latter telescopically mounted in surrounding relation thereon. Preferably, the outer and inner diameters of the adjoining sections at their confronting faces are equal so that the outer diameter of sleeves 28 equals the inner diameter of the lower end of the intermediate section and frictionally engages that end when the two sections are moved toward each other. The fit between the sleeve and the lower end of the adjoining section is tight, preferably an interference fit, so that relatively large frictional forces are developed to oppose any relative movement between the adjoining sections when external forces, such as wind or ice loads act on the pole, arms 24 and fixtures 14.

In the present construction, tensioning means 44 is provided to enable easy and rapid manual assembly of the sections while at the same time to develop the requisite high physical forces to draw the sections into their joined position. This tensioning means is provided internally of the sections and is accessible for manual operation through a hand hole 54 adjacent to but spaced from the lower end of section 22. With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen that a flange 36 is secured as a circular segment to the interior surface of centering sleeve 28. The flange may be welded in place and it is preferably braced with gussets 56. Flange 36 is mounted in a diammetrical plane of the sleeve and is formed with a threaded opening 38 having its axis offset from but parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole and the sections. An upper flange 40, see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, is mounted on the internal surface of section 22 at the base of hand hole 54. This flange is also preferably of circular segmental form and may be welded in place to lie in a diammetrical plane and is here braced by gussets 56. Flange 40 is formed with an opening having its axis spaced from but parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole and aligned with the axis of opening 38. A bolt here forms the tensioning means 44 and has a lower threaded end portion 46 threadably engaged in opening 38 in flange 36 and an upper end 48 which is mounted for reciprocation through opening 42 in flange 40. Preferably and as here shown, the upper end portion of the bolt is stepped down so as to provide a shoulder 50 adjacent upper flange 40 and the stepped down portion of the bolt is threaded to receive a nut 52 which will seat on shoulder 50 to provide a manually engageable part to rotate the bolt to draw the sections together.

As a feature of the present invention, the lamp pole for esthetic and structural considerations is formed of a long graceful taper, and accordingly the several sections and centering sleeves are likewise tapered. As will be observed from FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower end of sleeve 28 will in such a tapered structure be formed with a somewhat larger diameter than the upper end 32 of section 16. Accordingly, sleeve 28 may be inserted into section 16 through its lower end and then driven home into the upper portion of the section with the tapered surfaces of the sleeve and section brought into mated tightly locked up position. The sleeve may then be spot or plug welded in place as indicated at 61. In such a tapered construction, the upper end 30 of the sleeve will have a somewhat smaller diameter than the lower end 34 of section 22 and accordingly will readily enter such end without appreciable physical effort. The insertion of the sleeve into the lower end of section 22 may continue without appreciable effort until the outside wall of the tube begins to seat against the inside wall of the section. At this point, it is important that the sections be rotationally oriented to place into alignment openings 38 and 42 inflanges 36 and 40. Bolt 44 may then be entered interiorally of the structure through opening 54 and the lower end of the bolt threaded into opening 38. The bolt must be long enough to extend its upper end 48 through opening 42 for receipt of nut 52. The operator may then run the nut down on bolt end 48 until it seats on shoulder 50 following which the bolt will turn in opening 38 to function as a lead screw for drawing the sections together. A wrench is the only tooling required, and a workman can readily develop the high physical forces required to draw the sections into tightly locked up position in which the confronting ends 32 and 34 of the sections are brought into abutment. Since these ends are of the same diameter, a smooth, continuous line finish is provided.

The uppermost joint 58 is constructed in a similar fashion, that is by means of an internal centering sleeve 64 and threaded tensioning means 60 for moving adjoining sections 22 and 20 into abutted locked up engagement. Preferably also as earlier described, the sections 20 and 22 are of tubular form and tapered and sleeve 64 is similarly tapered so as to mate with the internal surfaces of sections 20 and 62.

Sleeve 64 may be inserted through the lower larger end of section 22 and moved longitudinally through the section to a home position firmly seated on the internal wall of the upper end portion 62 of section 22. The sleeve may then be welded or otherwise secured in place. When so positioned, an upper end portion 63 of the sleeve will project from section 22 for insertion into the lower end portion 66 of section 20. End portion 66 of section 20 may then be drawn over sleeve 63 until the confronting end faces 67 and 68 of the sections are brought into abutment. In the construction here shown, these end faces are formed obliquely, i.e., angularly inclined, to the longitudinal axis of the pole so as to hold the sections against relative rotation when the faces are brought into abutment with each other.

Tensioning bolt 60 in the present instance is mounted concentrically of the sections. As will be observed from FIGS. 1 and 7, arms 24 extending outwardly from section 20 define a flat shoulder or end wall 70 at the top of the section across the axis and which here forms a support for the head 72 of the bolt which may be inserted axially through a central opening 71 in the shoulder. The lower end 74 of the bolt may be threaded through a threaded opening 76 provided in a bar 68 mounted transversely across section 22 at the base of sleeve 64. By forming the bar as a part of sleeve 64, the latter is convenieptly inserted and secured in place together with the sleeve as above described.

After assembly of the several sections into a unitary pole as hereinabove described, the one or more hand holes 54 may be covered by an appropriate closure to pre- 5 vent moisture, dirt, etc. from entering the interior of the pole and to protect the bolts and threaded parts against weathering, corrosion and the like.

1 claim:

1. A multiple section pole comprising, a first section of tubular tapered form having a coaxial tubular tapered extension of smaller diameter projecting from one end of said section, a second tubular tapered section having a tubular end portion telescopically mounted on said extension in surrounding relation thereto, and tensioning means mounted interiorly of and being connected to said extension end portion and having an operable manually engageable part for operating said means to draw said sections together, said sections and extension and means being formed to secure the confronting edge of said sections in abutment and When so joined to form a continuous taper concealing the interior extension and said extension and the interior wall of said end portion having a mated tapered engagement.

2. A multiple section pole as defined in claim 1, wherein said tensioning means comprises, a threaded bolt carried for rotation by said end portion and extending longitudinally thereof, and a part fixably mounted on said extension in alignment with and threadably engaged by said bolt.

3. A multiple section pole as defined in claim 2 wherein said end portion is formed with an access opening in a side Wall thereof spaced from said extension, and said bolt is provided with a manually engageable part located wthin said access opening.

4. A multiple section pole as defined in claim 2, wherein said second section is formed with an end wall having an opening therethrough for receiving said bolt and said bolt is formed with a head supported on the exterior side of said wall and providing said manually engageable part.

5. A multiple section pole as defined in claim 1, Wherein said extension is formed as a tapered sleeve having its larger diameter end mounted within and secured to the smaller diameter end of said first section and with the smaller diameter end of said sleeve projecting therefrom and mounted in mated tapered engagement with the interior wall of the larger diameter end of said second section.

6. A multiple section pole as defined in claim 1, wherein said sections and extension and means are formed to se cure the confronting ends of said sections in abutment and wherein said confronting ends are angularly inclined to the axis of the pole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,326 9/1878 Miner 52726 X 950,311 2/1910 Vallone et a1 285-191 1,834,535 12/1931 Riemenschneider 52726 X 2,952,484 9/ 1960 Zoltok. 3,144,375 8/1964 Day 5240 X 3,276,182 10/1966 Handley 52731 971,371 9/1910 Hale 248--159 2,706,499 4/ 1955 Grable 8579 X PRICE C. FAW, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,541 ,746 Dated November 24, 1970 lnventol-(s) Mertz 0. Scott It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 15 "edge" should read ends Signed and sealed this 1st day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

